Rubby Pérez, one of the Dominican Republic’s most beloved merengue singers, was confirmed dead early Wednesday morning after being found beneath the rubble of the Jet Set nightclub, where he had been performing when the roof collapsed on April 8.
Officials say the death toll has risen to 113, with more than 150 people injured.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the country’s Emergency Operations Center, confirmed Pérez’s death during a press conference on April 9, according to an NBC News translation.
The collapse, which occurred during a packed live show at the popular Santo Domingo venue, has also claimed the lives of other high-profile figures, including Montecristi province governor Nelsy M. Cruz Martínez and former Major League Baseball players Tony Blanco and Octavio Dotel. According to Méndez, at least 155 people were transported to local hospitals.
Emergency crews were still combing through the rubble on Wednesday morning in a continued effort to locate survivors. Méndez emphasized that the search will not stop “as long as there is a family member who reports their loved ones missing in the rubble.” He added that three areas of the club had become priority zones after first responders reported hearing sounds from beneath the debris.
In a tragic detail shared by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Governor Cruz had reportedly called the president of the Dominican Republic from under the rubble. Her brother, former MLB star Nelson Cruz, confirmed her death in a series of Instagram posts later that evening. “Her legacy of service and love for others will live in our hearts forever,” he wrote.
The loss of former baseball players Blanco and Dotel also sent shockwaves through the sports world. Major League Baseball teams, including the New York Mets and the Houston Astros, paid tribute to the fallen athletes, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement acknowledging the depth of the tragedy. “The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today,” he said.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The owners of Jet Set nightclub have stated they are cooperating fully with authorities “to assist the victims and clarify what happened,” according to a translated statement posted to Instagram. A fire had broken out at the venue in 2023 after lightning struck its power plant, but at the time, the club said the building’s structure had not been compromised. It is still unclear whether that fire had any impact on the 2025 collapse, or when the building was last formally inspected.
Rubby Pérez, born Roberto Antonio Pérez Herrera in Haina in 1956, was a national treasure. A car accident at 15 ended his dream of becoming a baseball player, but led him to a legendary music career instead. Known as “the highest voice of merengue,” he rose to fame with groups like Los Pitágoras del Ritmo and Fernando Villalona’s band, eventually launching a solo career that cemented his place in Latin music history. Just weeks ago, he received a standing ovation at the 2025 Soberano Awards in honor of his decades-long career.
His passing has prompted widespread mourning across the Dominican Republic. Fans and fellow artists have celebrated his powerful voice, resilience, and dedication to his craft—remembering a man who not only sang about love and life, but lived both to the fullest.
